ArtsJournal: Arts, Culture, Ideas

MUSIC

Dudamel And New York Philharmonic To Present Operas At Carnegie Hall

“Initially, the Philharmonic and Carnegie Hall will collaborate for five seasons, with Dudamel leading the orchestra in an annual concert opera, beginning (this coming) November with a two-night run of Puccini’s Tosca.” The cast will include Marina Rebeka as Tosca, Jonas Kaufmann as Cavaradossi and Ludovic Tézier as Scarpia.” - The New York Times

Music Companies Sue Anthropic For $3 Billion Over Copyright

The companies, including Universal Music Publishing Group, Concord Music Group, and ABKCO Music, are seeking more than $3 billion in potential statutory damages over alleged infringement of more than 20,000 songs. - Music Business Worldwide

Another Issue Musicians Don’t Talk About: Eating Disorders

A recent survey found that about a third of responding musicians were dealing or had dealt with an eating disorder. While there’s not yet any research as to why classical musicians develop eating disorders, several known risk factors are very common in the profession. - Classical Music (UK)

Spotify Paid Our Record $11 Billion To Musicians In 2025

The milestone year reflected the “largest annual payment to music from any retailer in history,” the company announced on Wednesday in a post. In 2025, Spotify’s payout amount grew by over 10%, making the Sweden-based streamer one of the industry’s main revenue drivers. - Los Angeles Times

Wynton Marsalis To Retire As Chief Of Jazz At Lincoln Center

“After nearly 40 years as the charismatic founder and recognizable face of Jazz at Lincoln Center, Wynton Marsalis will step down as managing and artistic director next year, the organization announced on Thursday, ending a transformative tenure that raised the profile of jazz nationwide.” - The New York Times

Why Ralph Fiennes Decided To Direct An Opera

Not just any opera, mind you: the story is one to which he has a long connection: the Pushkin/Tchaikovsky Eugene Onegin. The person who invited Fiennes is his longtime friend Semyon Bychkov, and the production is at the company where Bychkov was just appointed music director, the Paris Opera. - Prospect

The Year In Classical Music Statistics — The Busiest Performers, Orchestras, Etc…

In 2025, Yannick Nézet-Séguin tops our list of busiest conductors, with an amazing 120 listed engagements – and looking back over the last decade of data, Nézet-Séguin has been a consistent presence among the busiest. - BachTrack

How El Sistema Has Survived During Venezuela’s Turmoil

Eduardo Méndez acknowledges that running El Sistema with the political and social backdrop of recent years has been challenging. - NPR

Philip Glass Cancels World Premiere At Kennedy Center

 “(My) Symphony No. 15 is a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, and the values of the Kennedy Center today are in direct conflict with the message of the Symphony,” wrote the 89-year-old composer. “Therefore, I feel an obligation to withdraw this Symphony premiere from the Kennedy Center under its current leadership.” - The Washington Post (Yahoo!)

Cliburn Amateur Piano Competition Is Permanently Shut Down

The Cliburn International Amateur Piano Competition, founded in 1999, was held eight times, most recently in 2022. News of its retirement comes just a few days after the announcement of the inaugural Cliburn International Competition for Conductors, to be held in June 2028 in Houston. - The Violin Channel

Opera Philadelphia Extends General Director Anthony Roth Costanzo’s Contract

The renowned countertenor/impresario, who took the helm of the admired-but-struggling company in 2024, has added two years to his contract, which now ends after the 2028-29 season. The company has also extended the contract of music director Corrado Rovaris through May 2029. - The Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)

If You Hear Music During A Football Game, It’s Because Of This Berklee Alum

Joshua Sutherland is "the bridge between the music industry and the NFL,” he says - and he’s also in charge of promoting women’s and men’s flag football for the 2028 Olympics. - Boston Globe

Will The Grammys Finally Recognize This 85-Year-Old Singer Who Has Been Performing For Seven Decades?

“‘You don’t get to Cowboy Carter without Candi Staton,’ the musician and podcast host Rissi Palmer said, referring to the Beyoncé album. ‘She was seamlessly Southern and soulful in a way that, historically, kept her from being celebrated as a ‘country’ artist.’” - The New York Times

When You’re In A Repressive Society, Art Of Any Kind Can Spark A Rebellion

Even multiple-copied cassette tapes of Queen, for instance. “What moved me wasn’t just the sound, but what it represented.” - The Guardian (UK)

Renee Fleming Will No Longer Perform At The Kennedy Center

“Fleming and the Kennedy Center did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday evening. The center’s website said that she had withdrawn from two May concerts with the orchestra ‘due to a scheduling conflict.’” - The New York Times

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